Wearable airbag device

ABSTRACT

A wearable airbag device includes an airbag that is inflatable with an inflation gas, and an outer cover that covers an outer circumference of the airbag and is configured to hold the airbag as inflated. The airbag includes: two protecting portions each of which is configured to cover an outer side of the trochanter of femur of the wearer at airbag deployment; and a communicating path that is configured to provide gas communication between the two protecting portions at vicinities of upper end regions of the protecting portions. The outer cover includes, in the upper edge, a wrap portion that is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer. The outer cover further includes a means for suppressing each of the protecting portions from floating away from the body of the wearer at airbag deployment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-12258 of Yanagisawa et al., filed on Jan. 28, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device for protecting the hip of a wearer.

2. Description of Related Art

WO 2019/207474 A1 discloses a wearable airbag device for protecting the hip of a wearer such as an elderly person in the event of a fall or the like. This airbag device is designed to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer so as to inflate and deploy an airbag downward for protecting their hip when activated.

Since the above airbag device is configured to deploy the airbag downward from a state wrapped around the pelvis, the airbag as deployed comes to flare out and float away from the hip at the bottom. In other words, in the above airbag device, the airbag is wrapped around the pelvis which is narrower than the hip where the trochanters are located, and deployed downward therefrom to cover the hip which is thicker than the pelvis. As a consequence, the airbag as deployed comes to float away from the hip at the bottom. There is a fear that such an airbag fails to cover the hip quickly and adequately in the event of a fall or the like.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of a wearer for protecting the hip of the wearer. The airbag device includes an airbag that is configured to be inflated with an inflation gas, and an outer cover that covers an outer circumference of the airbag and is configured to hold the airbag as inflated, the outer cover being formed of a sheet material having flexibility. The airbag includes: two protecting portions each of which is configured to cover an outer side of a targeted body part of the wearer at airbag deployment, the targeted body part being left and right trochanters of femurs; and a communicating path that is configured to provide gas communication between the two protecting portions at vicinities of upper end regions of the protecting portions. The outer cover includes: a wrap portion that is disposed in a vicinity of an upper edge of the outer cover and adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer; and a means for suppressing each of the protecting portions from floating away from the body of the wearer at airbag deployment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a wearable airbag device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as worn by a wearer.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the wearable airbag device of the exemplary embodiment as laid flat.

FIG. 3 is a sectional end view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional end view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an airbag for use in the wearable airbag device of the exemplary embodiment as laid flat.

FIG. 6A is a partial enlarged plan view of a connecting portion in which an end portion of the airbag and an outer cover are connected to one another.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 schematically depicts the wearable airbag device as has deployed the airbag in a worn state.

FIG. 8 is a schematic partial horizontal sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 5 as deployed taken along a front and rear direction in the wearable airbag device of the exemplary embodiment. More particularly, FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a left portion of the airbag.

FIG. 9 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 5 as deployed in the worn state.

FIG. 10 depicts a vicinity of a mounting belt in an initial stage of airbag deployment in the wearable airbag device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment by schematic sectional views.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a wearable airbag device in accordance with an alternative embodiment as laid flat.

FIG. 12 is a sectional end view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an airbag as deployed in a worn state, in the wearable airbag device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a wearable airbag device in accordance with another alternative embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an airbag as deployed in a worn state, in the wearable airbag device of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a wearable airbag device in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an airbag as deployed in a worn state, in the wearable airbag device of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. All modifications within the appended claims and equivalents relative thereto are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims.

A wearable airbag device 51 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment is configured to be wrapped around the hip MW (more particularly, around the pelvis MP) of a wearer M, as can be seen in FIG. 1. Unless otherwise specified, up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions in the following description are intended to refer to up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions as viewed from the wearer M wearing the airbag device 51.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the wearable airbag device 51 includes an airbag 10, a gas generator 5 for feeding the airbag 10 with an inflation gas, an operation control device 1 that includes a sensor part 2 for detecting a fall of the wearer M and is configured to actuate the gas generator 5, and an outer cover 20 that covers an outer circumference of the airbag 10. In the wearable airbag device 51 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the airbag 10 is disposed inside the outer cover 20 in a developed or unfolded state, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The operation control device 1 includes a sensor part 2 that includes an angular velocity sensor capable of sensing angular velocities around three axes in up and down, front and rear, and left and right directions, and an acceleration sensor capable of sensing accelerations in the three-axis directions. The operation control device 1 is configured to actuate the gas generator 5 in response to a signal fed from the sensor part 2 as has sensed a falling behavior different from a normal behavior of the wearer M. More particularly, the operation control device 1 includes a determining means that is configured to determine based on various thresholds, and is configured to actuate the gas generator 5 upon sensing a fall of the wearer M based on the determination by the determining means. The operation control device 1 further includes a power source composed of a not-shown battery or the like for operation of the sensor part 2 and for emission of an actuating signal to the gas generator 5.

The airbag 10 is made of a sheet material having flexibility. The airbag 10 of this specific embodiment is made of a fabric woven with polyester yarns, polyamide yarns or the like. The airbag 10 is held by the outer cover 20, and adapted to be worn by a wearer M in that state through the use of a later-described wrap portion 24 of the outer cover 20 which is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, the airbag 10 includes an inner wall 10 a that is configured to be disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 10 b that is substantially identical to the inner wall 10 a in outer shape and configured to be disposed on the outer side when worn, and is formed into a bag inflatable into a substantially board shape by joining circumferential edges of the inner wall 10 a and outer wall 10 b together. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the airbag 10 of this embodiment includes two protecting portions 13 (13L, 13R) for covering left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M, and a communicating path 12 that provides gas communication between the two protecting portions 13 at upper ends 13 d of the protecting portions 13. The airbag 10 is designed to be bilaterally symmetrical in shape as laid flat.

The communicating path 12 is designed to be inflated into a rod shape elongated substantially along a left and right direction. The communicating path 12 is disposed inside the later-described wrap portion 24 of the outer cover 20, and adapted to be disposed at the rear of the pelvis MP of the wearer M when worn. The width in an up and down direction of the communicating path 12 as laid flat is slightly smaller than the width in the up and down direction of a later-described central portion 25 of the wrap portion 24 of the outer cover 20 so that the communicating path 12 fills the central portion 25 at airbag deployment. That is, an upper edge region 12 b of the communicating path 12, which is inflatable, is configured to lap over a later-described mounting belt 35 (or belt body 36) disposed in the wrap portion 24 at an outer side of the mounting belt 35 when the airbag device 51 is worn, as can be seen in FIG. 4.

In this specific embodiment, the gas generator 5 is connected to the communicating path 12 for feeding the airbag 10 with an inflation gas, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Although not depicted in detail, the gas generator 5 is located at a vicinity of the center in the length direction of and at a vicinity of the center in the up and down direction of the communicating path 12. The gas generator 5 contains a compressed gas in a sealed state, and is designed to discharge a cold gas into the airbag 10 when actuated and unsealed. The gas generator 5 is electrically connected to the operation control device 1 and configured to be actuated when fed with an actuating signal from the operation control device 1 as has sensed a fall of the wearer M. The protecting portions 13 (13L, 13R) are designed to extend downward and outwardly in the left and right direction from the communicating path 12, in the airbag 10 as laid flat. As can be seen in FIG. 5, in the airbag 10 as laid flat, each of the protecting portions 13 (13L, 13R) of this embodiment is designed such that the upper edge 13 a is disposed at a farther downward position than the upper edge 12 a of the communicating path 12, in a stepped manner with respect to the communicating path 12, and such that the upper edge 13 a inclines upward toward the outer end (or the front end as worn) so as to be inclined with respect to the upper edge 12 a of the communicating path 12. The inclination of the upper edge 13 a of each of the protecting portions 13 is substantially in parallel to an inclination of a later-described terminal portion 26 (26L/26R) of the wrap portion 24 of the outer cover 20. In order to cover the trochanter (greater trochanter) TP of femur and surroundings as a targeted body part amply at airbag deployment, each of the protecting portions 13 as laid flat has a substantially trapezoidal outer shape that narrows toward the lower end 13 b. More particularly, each of the protecting portions 13 is formed substantially into a trapezoid which is substantially bilaterally symmetrical when having the upper edge 13 a as the bottom side, so as to cover a side of the pelvis MP to the subtrochanteric region at airbag deployment. Each of the protecting portions 13 is configured such that the upper end portion 13 c is disposed in a region of the terminal portion 26 (26L/26R) of the wrap portion 24. More particularly, in the airbag 10 as laid flat, the upper end portion 13 c of each of the protecting portions 13 is located at a farther downward position than the center in the up and down direction of the terminal portion 26 of the wrap portion 24, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Even more particularly, each of the protecting portions 13 is configured such that the upper edge 13 a is located at a slightly farther downward position than the mounting belt 35 (or belt body 36) at airbag deployment in a worn state, as can be seen in FIG. 9. That is, the airbag 10 of the exemplary embodiment is configured such that an inflated portion of each of the protecting portions 13 is located at such a position as not to overlap with the mounting belt 35 at airbag deployment in a worn state.

The airbag 10 of this embodiment includes, at each of opposite ends of the upper edge region in a flattened state (in other words, at the front upper edge of each of the protecting portions 13L, 13R in a worn state), an opening 15, as can be seen in FIG. 5. Each of the openings 15 has a substantially circular shape, and is configured to allow two components of a later-described hook-and-loop fastener 30 as the fastening member disposed respectively in the inner surface 21 a of the inner panel 21 and the inner surface 22 a of the outer panel 22 to interlock with one another there through, as described later (FIG. 6). That is, the opposite ends of the upper edge 10 c of the airbag 10 (in other words, the front upper edges of the protecting portions 13L, 13R in a worn state) are respectively connected to opposite ends of the wrap portion 24 of the outer cover 20 (i.e. to later-described distal end portions 26 a of the terminal portions 26L, 26R), through the use of the hook-and-loop fasteners 30 as the fastening member and the openings 15. The airbag 10 as inflated is held by the outer cover 20 with the communicating path 12 inflated in such a manner as to fill a later-described central portion 25 of the wrap portion 24 and with the opposite ends of the upper edge 10 c (i.e. the front upper edges of the protecting portions 13L, 13R in a worn state) coupled with the distal end portions 26 a of the wrap portion 24 (more specifically, with the distal end portions 26 of the terminal portions 26L, 26R of the wrap portion 24).

The outer cover 20 is made of a flexible woven fabric having better touch than the base cloths of the airbag 10. The outer cover 20 of this embodiment is formed of a woven fabric of polyester. The outer cover 20 includes an inner panel 21 that is disposed in the inner side (i.e. towards the wearer M) when worn, and an outer panel 22 that is substantially identical to the inner panel 21 in outer shape and disposed on the outer side when worn, and is formed into a bag by joining (or sewing) circumferential edges of the inner panel 21 and outer panel 22 together. Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the outer cover 20 includes a wrap portion 24 that is substantially band-shaped, located in a vicinity of the upper edge of the outer cover 20 and is adapted to be wrapped around a body part above the pelvis MP of the wearer M, and two covering portions 28 (28L, 28R) each of which extends downward from the wrap portion 24 for covering an outer circumference of the protecting portion 13 (13U13R).

The wrap portion 24 includes a central portion 25 and two terminal portions 26 (26L, 26R) that extend from opposite ends of the central portion 25. The central portion 25 is formed into a band extending substantially along the left and right direction. The communicating path 12 of the airbag 10 is disposed inside the central portion 25. The central portion 25 as laid flat has a slightly greater width than that of the communicating path 12 so as to house the communicating portion 12 there inside. Each of the terminal portions 26 (26L, 26R) has a smaller width than the central portion 25, and inclines upward toward the distal end portion 26 a facing away from the central portion 25 so as to be inclined with respect to the central portion 25 in a flatly developed state. Each of the terminal portions 26L, 26R is inclined with respect to the central portion 25 substantially in parallel to the upper edge 13 a of each of the protecting portions 13L/13R of the airbag 10. The distal end portion 26 a of each of the terminal portions 26L, 26R is designed to protrude slightly outwardly from the covering portion 28 (28L/28R) and to be narrower in width than the central portion 25. The width of each of the distal end portions 26 a in this embodiment is about a half of that of the central portion 25. Each of the distal end portions 26 a of the terminal portions 26L, 26R internally includes a hook-and-loop fastener 30 as the fastening member for fastening opposite ends of the upper edge 10 c of the airbag 10 to the outer cover 20, as described above. More specifically, the hook-and-loop fastener 30 includes a pair of a hook surface 30 a and a loop surface 30 b that are respectively disposed on the inner surface 21 a of the inner panel 21 and the inner surface 22 a of the outer panel 22. The hook-and-loop fastener 30 of this embodiment is formed into a quadrangle which is slightly greater than the opening 15 formed in the airbag 10, as can be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The hook-and-loop fastener 30 couples each of the opposite end portions of the upper edge 10 c of the airbag 10 to the distal end portion 26 a of the wrap portion 24 (more particularly, to the distal end portion 26 a of the terminal portion 26L/26R of the wrap portion 24) of the outer cover 20, by interlocking of the hook surface 30 a and loop surface 30 b through the opening 15, as can be seen in FIG. 6B.

The wrap portion 24 is provided with a mounting belt 35 that is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M for putting the airbag device 51 on the wearer M. The mounting belt 35 is disposed on the inner panel 21 in the wrap portion 24 so as to be disposed between the inner panel 21 and the wearer M in a worn state, as can be seen in FIG. 9. In this specific embodiment, the mounting belt 35 is arranged substantially along the upper edge 24 a of the wrap portion 24 substantially at the center in the up and down direction of the terminal portions 26L, 26R. That is, in the central portion 25, the mounting belt 35 is disposed at a farther upward position than the center in the up and down direction of the central portion 25. In this embodiment, the mounting belt 35 is held by a plurality of belt loops 32 that are attached to a surface of the inner panel 21 to face toward the wearer M (that is, to an outer surface 21 b of the inner panel 21), in such a manner as to be movable with respect to the inner panel 21 (movable with respect to the inner panel 21 in a circumferential direction of the wearer M). Each of the belt loops 32 is formed into a band and joined to the inner panel 21 at upper and lower ends so as to be substantially orthogonal to the length direction of a later-described belt body 36 of the mounting belt 35. The belt loops 32 receive the belt body 36 between themselves and the inner panel 21. In this embodiment, fourteen belt loops 32 are provided. The mounting belt 35 includes a belt body 36 which is composed of a band-shaped member having flexibility and a buckle 38 which is composed of a male part 38 a and a female part 38 b respectively disposed in the opposite ends 36 a, 36 b of the belt body 36. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the male part 38 a of the buckle 38 is provided with an adjuster 38 c with which the length of the belt body 36 is adjusted. In the wearable airbag device 51 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the mounting belt 35 constitutes a means for suppressing each of the protecting portions 13 (13L, 13R) from floating away from the body of the wearer M at airbag deployment (namely, float-suppressing means).

The covering portions 28 (28L, 28R) extend downwardly from the terminal portions 26L, 26R of the wrap portion 24, respectively. Each of the covering portions 28L, 28R as laid flat has a substantially trapezoidal shape that is substantially similar to the protection portion 13 and greater than the protecting portion 13 so as to allow the protecting portion 13 to inflate smoothly there inside.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the wearer M puts on the wearable airbag device S1 by placing the wrap portion 24 of the outer cover 20 around the hip MW (or pelvis MP) and connecting the opposite ends 36 a, 36 b of the belt body 36 of the mounting belt 35 with the use of the buckle 38. If the sensor part 2 detects a falling behavior of the wearer M as wearing the airbag device S1, the operation control device 1 sends an actuating signal to the gas generator 5, the gas generator 5 feeds an inflation gas to the airbag 10, so that the airbag 10 is deployed as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

In the wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the protecting portions 13 for covering the targeted body parts (i.e. the trochanters TP) extend downward from the communicating path 12. However, the airbag device S1 includes the mounting belt 35 which is disposed in the outer cover 20 and serves as the float-suppressing means. The mounting belt 35 suppresses each of the protecting portions 13 from floating away from the hip MW at airbag deployment. Accordingly, each of the protecting portions 13 will be deployed in proximity to the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter TP) and cover the outer side of the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter TP) quickly and adequately. Moreover, since the outer cover 20 covers the outer circumference of the airbag 10, the wearable airbag device S1 has a good external appearance when worn. Furthermore, since the float-suppressing means is located in the outer cover 20, not in the airbag 10, the float-suppressing means will help control the location of the airbag 10 at deployment without affecting the protecting performance of the airbag 10.

Therefore, the wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment is able to protect the hip W of the wearer M in a steady fashion.

More specifically, in the wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the outer cover 20 includes, on the inner panel 21 in the wrap portion 24, the mounting belt 35 that is formed into a band and adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M for putting the airbag device S1 on the wearer.

The mounting belt 35 constitutes the float-suppressing means. The mounting belt 35 disposed on the inner panel 21 facing the wearer M makes the outer cover 20 wrapped around the pelvis MP, and the outer panel 22 of the outer cover 20 facing outwardly allows upper end 13 d regions of the protecting portions 13 including the communicating path 12 to protrude outwardly, without being affected by the mounting belt 35.

Accordingly, although configured to be put on by wrapping the mounting belt 35 around the pelvis MP which is more constricted than the hip MW (i.e. the trochanters TP and surroundings), the wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment is able to deploy the protection portions 13 downward while allowing the upper end 13 d regions of the protecting portions 13 including the communicating path 12 to each protrude slightly outwardly from a vicinity of the pelvis MP, thus suppresses lower end 13 b regions of the protecting portions 13 from floating away from the targeted body parts, as can be seen in FIG. 9. As a consequence, each of the protecting portions 13 is able to cover an outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) adequately.

In the wearable airbag device S1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the mounting belt 35 (i.e. the belt body 36) is held by a plurality of belt loops 32 that are attached to the surface of the inner panel 21 to face the body of the wearer M when worn (that is, to the outer surface 21 b of the inner panel 21), in such a manner as to be movable with respect to the inner panel 21 in a circumferential direction of the body of the wearer M. This configuration will allow the inner panel 21 of the outer cover 20 to move or slip with respect to the mounting belt 35 (i.e. the belt body 36) as wrapped around the pelvis MP in a circumferential direction of the pelvis MP, and will also allow the inner panel 21 to move in such a manner as to be separated outwardly from the mounting belt 35 (belt body 36) at flexing of the belt loops 32. To describe more specifically referring to FIG. 10, in an initial stage of airbag deployment, the belt loops 32 will allow the inner panel 21 to be separated from the belt body 36 temporarily in such a manner as to be pulled outwardly so that a gap is formed between the belt body 36 and the inner panel 21 as the airbag 10 is inflated. Therefore, the upper end 13 d regions of the protecting portions 13 including the communicating path 12 will be allowed to protrude outwardly temporarily further smoothly. If such advantageous effects do not have to be considered, the mounting belt may be connected or joined directly to the inner panel without using belt loops. Although the mounting belt 35 in this embodiment is disposed over an entire length of the wrap portion 24, in one or more embodiments, the mounting belt may be disposed only at opposite ends of the wrap portion so as to extend from the opposite ends.

A wearable airbag device S2 in accordance with an alternative embodiment is now described referring to FIGS. 11 and 12. The wearable airbag device S2 includes an airbag 40, a gas generator 5 for feeding the airbag 40 with an inflation gas, an operation control device 1 that includes a sensor part 2 for detecting a fall of the wearer M and is configured to actuate the gas generator 5, and an outer cover 45 that covers an outer circumference of the airbag 40. Also in the wearable airbag device S2, the airbag 40 is disposed inside the outer cover 45 in a developed or unfolded state, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. The operation control device 1 and the gas generator 5 have the same configurations as those of the airbag device S1, respectively, and therefore, detailed description for those will be omitted.

The airbag 40 is held by the outer cover 45, and adapted to be worn by a wearer M in that state through the use of a later-described wrap portion 49 of the outer cover 45 which is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis MP of the wearer M, as can be seen in FIG. 13. Similarly to the airbag 10 in the foregoing embodiment, the airbag 40 includes an inner wall 40 a that is configured to be disposed towards the wearer M (i.e. in the inner side) when worn, and an outer wall 40 b that is substantially identical to the inner wall 40 a in outer shape and configured to be disposed on the outer side when worn, and is formed into a bag inflatable into a substantially board shape by sewing (joining) circumferential edges of the inner wall 40 a and outer wall 40 b together. The airbag 40 includes two protecting portions 43 (43L, 43R) for covering left and right sides of the hip MW of the wearer M, and a communicating path 42 that provides gas communication between the two protecting portions 43 at upper ends 43 a of the protecting portions 43. Each of the protecting portions 43 is not inclined with respect to the communicating portion 42, but is formed such that the upper edge continues from the upper edge of the communicating path 42. The airbag 40 has the same configuration as that of the airbag 10 of the wearable airbag device S1 except in outer shape.

Similarly to the outer cover 20 of the airbag device S1, the outer cover 45 is made of a flexible woven fabric having better touch than the base cloths of the airbag 40. The outer cover 45 includes an inner panel 46 that is disposed in the inner side (i.e. towards the wearer M) when worn, and an outer panel 47 that is substantially identical to the inner panel 46 in outer shape and disposed on the outer side when worn, and is formed into a bag by joining (or sewing) circumferential edges of the inner panel 46 and outer panel 47 together. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the outer cover 45 includes a wrap portion 49 that is substantially band-shaped, located in a vicinity of the upper edge of the outer cover 45 and is adapted to be wrapped around a body part above the pelvis MP of the wearer M, and two covering portions 52 (52L, 52R) each of which extends downward from the wrap portion 49 for covering an outer circumference of the protecting portion 43 (43L/43R). The wrap portion 49 is provided, in the opposite ends 49 a, 49 b, with a hook-and-loop faster 50 as a fastening means. The hook-and-loop fastener 50 includes a pair of a hook surface 50 a and a loop surface 50 b that are respectively disposed on the opposite ends 49 a, 49 b of the wrap portion 49 so as to fasten the opposite ends 49 a, 49 b of the wrap portion 49 together. Each of the covering portions 52L, 52R as laid flat has such an outer shape that is substantially similar to the protection portion 43 and greater than the protecting portion 43 so as to allow the protecting portion 43 to inflate smoothly there inside.

The outer cover 45 of this embodiment includes, in a part of the outer panel 47, a low-elongation region 55 that is provided with a material having lower elongation than the inner panel 46 and remaining regions of the outer panel 47. The low-elongation region 55 of this specific embodiment is formed by forming, on a surface of the outer panel 47, a synthetic-resin layer that has lower elongation than the woven fabric forming the outer panel 47 and inner panel 46 and also has some degree of flexibility. By way of example, the synthetic-resin layer may be composed of a coating layer of urethane, nylon or the like. The low-elongation region 55 is able to prevent the protecting portion 43 as is inflating from protruding toward a floating direction and help deploy the protecting portion 43 downward in such a manner as to push down the protecting portion 43. In various embodiments, the low-elongation region 55 may be given a different color from the surrounding area in the outer panel 47, a mark, or an ornamentation like a letter(s) for a better appearance. In this embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, two low-elongation regions 55 are disposed in a vicinity of the upper end 47 a of the outer panel 47, more particularly, in the regions each ranging from the wrap portion 49 to the upper end 52 a region of the covering portion 52. In the wearable airbag device S2, each of the low-elongation regions 55 in the outer panel 47 constitutes the means for suppressing each of the protecting portions 43 from floating away from the body of the wearer M at airbag deployment (i.e. the float-suppressing means).

The above configuration will make at least a part of the outer panel 47 of the outer cover 45 (i.e. the low-elongation region 55) less prone to elongate than the inner panel 46, i.e. make the inner panel 46 more prone to elongate relatively. That is, the above configuration will help deploy the protecting portions 43 of the airbag 40 toward the inner panel 46, i.e. toward the wearer M, in such a manner as to push the protecting portions 43 downwardly not toward a floating direction, due to the presence of the low-elongation regions 55 formed in the outer panel 47 of the outer cover 45. Therefore, each of the protecting portions 43 will be suppressed from floating away from the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) at the lower end 43 b at deployment, thus will be able to cover the outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) adequately, as can be seen in FIG. 13. To describe more specifically, in the wearable airbag device S2, each of the low-elongation regions 55 is formed in the region ranging from the wrap portion 49 to the upper end 52 a region of the covering portion 52. In other words, the low-elongation region 55 is formed in the region for covering an outer side of the upper end 43 a region of the protecting portion 43 of the airbag 40. This configuration will suppress the upper end 43 a region of each of the protecting portions 43 from protruding outwardly at airbag deployment and help deploy the protecting portions 43 downwardly smoothly in such a manner as to push down the protecting portions 43. As a consequence, each of the protecting portions 43 will be suppressed from floating away from the targeted body part at the lower end 43 b region, as can be seen in FIG. 13, and will be able to cover the outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) adequately. The location of the low-elongation region should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but may be determined arbitrarily provided that it is located in a region of the outer panel for covering the protecting portion. In various embodiments, the low-elongation region may be formed by impregnating the outer panel with urethane resin or nylon resin. Further alternatively, the outer panel itself may be composed of a material having lower elongation than that of the inner panel so the whole outer panel serves as the low-elongation region. By way of example, the outer panel may be composed of cotton, linen or the like different from the material of the inner panel, a base member having a different weave structure (high-density plain weave material, by way of example) from that of the inner panel, or a two-ply base member.

The outer cover may be configured like an outer cover 45A depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15. Instead of including a low-elongation region in the outer panel, the outer cover 45A includes a weight 57 in a vicinity of the lower end 52 b of the covering portion 52A (i.e. in a vicinity of the lower end of the outer cover). As can be seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, the weight 57 is formed into a plate arranged over an entire area in a width direction of the covering portion 52A in the outer panel 47A, in the vicinity of the lower end 52 b of the covering portion 52A. The weight 57 is connected to the outer panel 47A by a not-shown predetermined portion(s). In this outer cover 45A, the weight 57 constitutes the means for suppressing the protecting portion 43 from floating away from the body of the wearer M at airbag deployment.

At airbag deployment, the weight 57 disposed in a vicinity of the lower end of the outer cover 45A (in a vicinity of the lower end 52 b of the covering portion 52A) will act in such a manner as to pull the protecting portion 43 downwardly, and suppress the protecting portion 43 from floating away from the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) at the lower end 43 b region, so that the protecting portion 43 will cover an outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) adequately, as can be seen in FIG. 15. Although the weight 57 is disposed in the outer panel 47A in the depicted embodiment, it may be located in the inner panel.

Further alternatively, the outer cover may be configured like an outer cover 45B depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17. The outer cover 45B includes, in a vicinity of the lower end 52 b of the covering portion 52B (i.e. in a vicinity of the lower end of the outer cover), a wrap band 59 that is adapted to be wrapped around the femoral region MT of the wearer M. The wrap band 59 is adapted to be wrapped around the femoral region MT when the wearer M puts on the wearable airbag device by wrapping the wrap portion of the outer cover 45B around the pelvis. The wrap band 59 of this specific embodiment internally includes a plate spring so as to roll up around the femoral region MT when applied to the femoral region MT and keep rolled. More specifically, the wrap band 59 extends from an outer edge in a left and right direction of the outer cover 45B as laid flat in a vicinity of the lower end 52 b of the covering portion 52B. Although not depicted in detail, the length of the wrap band 59 is longer than a circumferential length of the femoral region MT. In the outer cover 45B, the wrap band 59 constitutes the means for suppressing the protecting portion 43 from floating away from the body of the wearer M at airbag deployment.

With the outer cover 45B configured as described above, the wrap band 59 as wrapped around the femoral region MT will prevent the lower end 45 a region of the outer cover 45B (i.e. the lower end 52 b of the covering portion 52B) from being separated from the femoral region MT at airbag deployment. Accordingly, the protecting portion 43 will be suppressed from floating away from the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) at the lower end 43 b region at airbag deployment, and will be able to cover the outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter TP) adequately, as can be seen in FIG. 17. Although the wrap band 59 of the above embodiment internally includes a plate spring to wrap around the femoral region when applied to the femoral region, the wrap band does not necessarily have to include a plate spring. In one or more embodiments, the wrap band may include a means for fastening its opposite ends such as a hook-and-loop faster or one or more snap fasteners.

With the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 in the foregoing embodiments, the two protecting portions 13, 43 of the airbags 10, 40 are able to protect vicinities of bases of the femurs TB (i.e. the trochanters TP of femurs) of the wearer M in a steady fashion. That is, the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 in accordance with the foregoing embodiments will help prevent fractures of the femur TB that may take a long time to treat, thus will be suitable for use by elderly people.

In the wearable airbag devices S1 and S2 in accordance with the foregoing embodiments, the airbag 10, 40 is stored in the outer cover 20, 45, 45A, 45B in a flatly developed state. However, in a type of the airbag device in which a mounting belt serves as the float-suppressing means, the airbag and the outer cover may be configured to be wrapped around the pelvis in a folded configuration provided that the outer cover is able to hold and cover an outer circumference of the airbag as deployed.

The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a wearable airbag device adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of a wearer for protecting the hip of the wearer. The airbag device includes an airbag that is configured to be inflated with an inflation gas, and an outer cover that covers an outer circumference of the airbag and is configured to hold the airbag as inflated, the outer cover being formed of a sheet material having flexibility. The airbag includes: two protecting portions each of which is configured to cover an outer side of a targeted body part of the wearer at airbag deployment, the targeted body part being left and right trochanters of femurs; and a communicating path that is configured to provide gas communication between the two protecting portions at vicinities of upper end regions of the protecting portions. The outer cover includes: a wrap portion that is disposed in a vicinity of an upper edge of the outer cover and adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer; and a means for suppressing each of the protecting portions from floating away from the body of the wearer at airbag deployment.

In the wearable airbag device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the protecting portions for covering the targeted body parts (i.e. the trochanters) extend downward from the communicating path, in the airbag. However, the means for suppressing suppresses each of the protecting portions from floating away from the hip at airbag deployment. Accordingly, each of the protecting portions will be deployed in proximity to the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter) and cover the outer side of the targeted body part (i.e. the trochanter) quickly and adequately. Moreover, since the outer cover covers the outer circumference of the airbag, the wearable airbag device has a good external appearance when worn. Furthermore, since the means for suppressing is located in the outer cover, not in the airbag, the means for suppressing will help control the location of the airbag at deployment without affecting the protecting performance of the airbag.

Therefore, the wearable airbag device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment is able to protect the hip of the wearer in a steady fashion.

In one or more embodiments, the outer cover may include: an inner panel that is configured to be disposed between the airbag and the body of the wearer when worn; an outer panel that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; and a mounting belt that is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer for putting the airbag device on the wearer, the mounting belt having a band shape and being disposed on the inner panel in the wrap portion, the mounting belt constituting the means for suppressing.

With the above configuration, the mounting belt disposed on the inner panel facing the wearer makes the outer cover wrapped around the pelvis, and the outer panel of the outer cover facing outwardly allows upper end regions of the protecting portions including the communicating path to protrude outwardly, without being affected by the mounting belt. Accordingly, although configured to be put on by wrapping the mounting belt around the pelvis which is more constricted than the hip (i.e. the trochanters and surroundings), the wearable airbag device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment is able to deploy the protection portions downward while allowing the upper end regions of the protecting portions including the communicating path to each protrude slightly outwardly from a vicinity of the pelvis, thus suppresses lower end regions of the protecting portions from floating away from the targeted body parts. As a consequence, each of the protecting portions is able to cover an outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter) adequately.

In one or more embodiments, the wearable airbag device may further include a plurality of belt loops that are attached to a surface of the inner panel of the outer cover to face the body of the wearer when worn, the plurality of belt loops holding the mounting belt in such a manner that the mounting belt is movable with respect to the inner panel in a circumferential direction of the body of the wearer.

The above configuration will allow the inner panel of the outer cover to move or slip with respect to the mounting belt as wrapped around the pelvis in a circumferential direction of the pelvis, and will also allow the inner panel to move in such a manner as to be separated outwardly from the mounting belt at flexing of the belt loops. Therefore, the upper end regions of the protecting portions including the communicating path will be allowed to protrude outwardly temporarily further smoothly.

In one or more embodiments, the outer cover may include: an inner panel that is configured to be disposed between the airbag and the body of the wearer when worn; an outer panel that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; and a low-elongation region that is disposed at least in a part of the outer panel and has lower elongation than the inner panel, the low-elongation region being configured to prevent each of the protecting portions as is inflating from protruding toward a direction drawing away from the body of the wearer and help deploy each of the protecting portions downward in such a manner as to push down the protecting portion, the low-elongation region constituting the means for suppressing.

The above configuration will make at least a part of the outer panel of the outer cover (i.e. the low-elongation region) less prone to elongate than the inner panel, i.e. make the inner panel more prone to elongate relatively. That is, the above configuration will help deploy the protecting portions of the airbag toward the inner panel, i.e. toward the wearer, in such a manner as to push the protecting portions downwardly not toward a floating direction, due to the presence of the low-elongation region formed in the outer panel of the outer cover. Therefore, each of the protecting portions will be suppressed from floating away from the targeted body part (the trochanter) at the lower end at deployment, thus will be able to cover the outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter) adequately.

In one or more embodiments, the outer cover may include, in a vicinity of the lower end, at least one weight that serves as the means for suppressing. At airbag deployment, the weight will act in such a manner as to pull each of the protecting portions downwardly, and suppress each of the protecting portions from floating away from the targeted body part (the trochanter) at the lower end region, so that each of the protecting portion will cover an outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter) adequately.

In one or more embodiments, the outer cover may include, in a vicinity of the lower end, at least one wrap band that is adapted to be wrapped around the femoral region of the wearer and serves as the means for suppressing. The wrap band as wrapped around the femoral region will prevent the lower end region of the outer cover from being separated from the femoral region at airbag deployment. Accordingly, each of the protecting portions will be suppressed from floating away from the targeted body part (the trochanter) at the lower end region at airbag deployment, and will be able to cover the outer side of the targeted body part (the trochanter) adequately. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable airbag device adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of a wearer for protecting the hip of the wearer, the airbag device comprising: an airbag that is configured to be inflated with an inflation gas, the airbag including: two protecting portions each of which is configured to cover an outer side of a targeted body part of the wearer at airbag deployment, the targeted body part being left and right trochanters of femurs; and a communicating path that is configured to provide gas communication between the two protecting portions at vicinities of upper end regions of the protecting portions; and an outer cover that covers an outer circumference of the airbag and is configured to hold the airbag as inflated, the outer cover being formed of a sheet material having flexibility, wherein the outer cover includes: a wrap portion that is disposed in a vicinity of an upper edge of the outer cover and adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer; and a means for suppressing each of the protecting portions from floating away from the body of the wearer at airbag deployment.
 2. The wearable airbag device of claim 1, wherein the outer cover includes: an inner panel that is configured to be disposed between the airbag and the body of the wearer when worn; an outer panel that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; and a mounting belt that is adapted to be wrapped around the pelvis of the wearer for putting the airbag device on the wearer, the mounting belt having a band shape and being disposed on the inner panel in the wrap portion, the mounting belt constituting the means for suppressing.
 3. The wearable airbag device of claim 2, further including a plurality of belt loops that are attached to a surface of the inner panel of the outer cover to face the body of the wearer when worn, the plurality of belt loops holding the mounting belt in such a manner that the mounting belt is movable with respect to the inner panel in a circumferential direction of the body of the wearer.
 4. The wearable airbag device of claim 1, wherein the outer cover includes: an inner panel that is configured to be disposed between the airbag and the body of the wearer when worn; an outer panel that is configured to face away from the wearer when worn; and a low-elongation region that is disposed at least in a part of the outer panel and has lower elongation than the inner panel, the low-elongation region being configured to prevent each of the protecting portions as is inflating from protruding toward a direction drawing away from the body of the wearer and help deploy each of the protecting portions downward in such a manner as to push down the protecting portion, the low-elongation region constituting the means for suppressing.
 5. The wearable airbag device of claim 1, further including, in a vicinity of a lower end of the outer cover, at least one weight that serves as the means for suppressing.
 6. The wearable airbag device of claim 1, further including, in a vicinity of a lower end of the outer cover, at least one wrap band that is adapted to be wrapped around the femoral region of the wearer and serves as the means for suppressing. 